'Take a look at the people who have been killed'

The reaction to the death sentence imposed on Bali bomber Imam Samudra may have been fiery in Denpasar but in Australia it appeared far more subdued than when fellow terrorist Amrozi was condemned to death.

Perhaps the process is more familiar, and maybe Amrozi's fate was more eagerly awaited because of his infamous smile.

Jan Laczynski, an Australian who lost friends in the nightclub attacks, was in Bali for the judgement and said he felt justice had been done.

"I really feel happy that justice has been done," Mr Laczynski said outside the court, where he was wearing a white T-shirt from the destroyed Sari Club and carrying a flag with the victims' photos on it. "Families back home can take some comfort."

As Samudra was led from the court, Mr Laczynski yelled at him: "We are proud to be Australians - take a look at the people who have been killed."

Samudra shouted back angrily.

Mr Laczynski, recounting the shouting match later, said he felt scared as he locked eyes with Samudra. "He looked at me - he wasn't too happy. Thank God for the security guards," he said.

Louie Zervos, of Marrickville, whose sister, Louiza, and cousins Dimmy and Elizabeth Kotronakis were murdered in Bali, came face-to-face with Samudra in June.

Mr Zervos had prompted Samudra to shout anti-Western slogans when he confronted the terrorist with a photograph of his three killed relatives.

Last month Mr Zervos welcomed the death sentence imposed on Amrozi but he was unaware of Samudra's fate until contacted by the Herald.

"I'm still waiting for [Amrozi] to die," he said. "He's still alive isn't he. I just get angry every time I hear about it."

David "Spike" Stewart, of Melbourne, whose son, Anthony, was killed in Bali, was happy to hear of Samudra's death sentence, but not as elated as when he heard Amrozi would be killed.

"It felt good," Mr Stewart said. "But it was not the same reaction as for Amrozi. I think the smiling is part of it."

From his home town of Banten in west Java, Samudra's sister, Nunung, said if her brother was executed "he will die as a martyr and as a mujahideen".

Nunung said it was "impossible" that her brother had planned and carried out the bombings.

"Everything was fabricated, it was a show," she said in an interview on Indonesian radio.

Asked what she would say to Samudra if she could, she said: "I would say be strong and be patient because Islam is under attack and is being persecuted."

She said the family does not accept the verdict because the trial was conducted by the "the world" and the sentence was not from Allah.